KEMEDIES. 51 



inechanical state of liis land is just as import- 

 ant as the chemical. Glass, which refuses to 

 part with its alkalis when in a solid state, if 

 brought into contact with water, parts with 

 them easily when moistened, after being finely 

 pounded in a mortar. Any person may con- 

 vince himself of this fact, by laying a lump of 

 wetted glass on turmeric paper. No result 

 follows. Now, reduce the same piece of glass 

 to fine powder, and wet it ; the turmeric paper 

 turns red, indicating that an alkali has been set 

 free. Hence the fine mechanical division of the 

 soil eifected by judicious mixture of more 

 friable materials, may produce great results in 

 giving out organic compounds whose tendency 

 is to strengthen it against the attacks of dis- 

 ease. This is only one instance out of thou- 

 sands, to show the importance of science to a 

 class of men long entirely neglectful of its ad- 

 vantages, but now becoming more aware of 

 them. 



2. A careful notice of many places where 

 mildew has prevailed, will at once satisfy the 

 observer that they have been so situated as 

 to be subject to the evils of too much shade, or 

 want of free circulation of air. Letting in more 

 air and light in these localities, by^ obvious 



